Coding in Community
unified.diff
What is coding in community?
Codin' in a box
Stereotypes, there must be more to life...
Is solo coding bad?
● No● Yes● Kind of● Sometimes
Source: derivative work: JovianEye
Dangers of being a lone coder
Image: public domain, http://pixabay.com/en/computer-user-angry-danger-42657/
My own experience as a solo coder
Image by wiredforlego (creative commons)
● Joined company with more vibrant tech community
● Got involved in open source● Started going to tech meetups● Hack nights● Had the courage to get my code reviewed● Started blogging, discussing ideas
What changed?
Image: Felix Burton
My wishlist
● I wish I'd had a sense of how much I didn't know.
● I wish I hadn't thought I was so "complete" as a software developer.
● I wish I had been more humble.● I wish I had worked harder to find the wider
technical community.● I wish I had treated clients with more
respect.
Image: Joe Peter Brown, creative commons, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbsnaptures/3011951715/
Dangers of being a lone coder
Bad habits unchallengedBecoming "precious"Fearing pressure testingNarrow focusLoneliness
Image: public domain, http://pixabay.com/en/computer-user-angry-danger-42657/
How community can help
Contributing to Open Source
● Courage● Github/Bitbucket● Get your code
reviewed!
Source: http://opensource.org/trademarks
Hack nights
Open Sourcing knowledge
● Blogging● CoderWall protips● Book writing● Podcast● Tech meetups
public domain image
How about doing a podcast?
Meetups (thanks Aurelien!)
1. User groups2. Workshops3. Coding dojos4. Barcamps5. Hackathons6. Conferences7. Code retreat/masterclass8. Startup weekends
How unified.diff do meetups
● Since Feb 2012● Free● Non-competitive● Promote meetups● 25-75 attendees● Format:
○ Talks/panel○ Chat
unified.diff
How cardiffdevworkshop does meetups
● Since Nov 2012● Free● Teaching based● 10-20 attendees● Format:
○ Talks/panel○ Chat
Benefits of meetups
● New ideas and tech● New friends● Interesting debates● Teaching consolidates knowledge● It's fun!
My tips on starting things
● Just do it!● 2 people is a start● Get account on
Meetup.com● Pinch follow list
from similar meetups on Twitter ;-)
Source: Alma-de-Gato
Other community things
● Code reviews● IRC/chat● Pair programming● Mentoring● Skills exchanges
Benefits
● Commercial benefits○ Recruitment○ Broader skillbase○ Improved morale
● Individual benefits○ Broader perspective○ New skills○ Teaching consolidates skills○ Meeting new people○ Being constantly challenged
Coding in Community
unified.diff@unifieddiff
@cardiffdevworkshop
